Explosions sounded in Tehran on Wednesday as Iran’s war with the US and Israel entered a fifth day following earlier strikes on an Iranian nuclear site and retaliatory attacks across the Gulf. Iran’s state TV reported dawn explosions around Tehran; Israel said its air defences had been activated to intercept incoming Iranian missiles, and explosions were heard near Jerusalem. Nearly 800 people have been reported killed in Iran, US and Israeli strikes have also hit Lebanon, where at least four people were killed in an Israeli strike on a residential complex in Baalbeck.
Submarine attack off Sri Lanka
A submarine attack on an Iranian ship off Sri Lanka has left at least 101 people missing, one dead and dozens injured, Sri Lankan navy and defence ministry sources told Reuters. The ship reportedly sank. Sri Lanka’s navy spokesman disputed the 101 missing figure, saying 32 injured had been rescued and were in hospital. Sri Lanka’s foreign minister told parliament the navy responded to a distress call and launched rescue operations at 0600 local time (1230 GMT). An unnamed navy source said 79 people were rescued and taken to hospital, one seriously injured; another of those brought to hospital later died.
Other developments
West Asia oil trade
An expert said the war in West Asia may push India’s imports of Russian crude up to 1.5 million barrels per day, reaching peaks seen in 2024–25, as Moscow sees increased demand for its oil from India for refining.
US staff withdrawals in Pakistan
The United States ordered non-emergency staff and family members to leave its consulates in Karachi and Lahore over security concerns after protests attempted to storm diplomatic posts following the killing of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in US-Israeli strikes.
Targeting Iran’s next leader
Israel’s Defence Minister Israel Katz said on X that whoever is chosen as Iran’s next supreme leader “will be a target for elimination,” calling leaders appointed by the regime threats to Israel, the US and the region.
Strikes near Beirut
Overnight Israeli strikes on towns near Beirut killed at least six people, Lebanon’s Health Ministry said. Israel struck Aramoun and Saadiyat south of Beirut’s airport and hit a hotel in the Hazmieh suburb.
Loud explosions in Tehran
State television reported explosions around Tehran as the conflict entered its fifth day, reflecting intensified bombardment following initial strikes on an Iranian nuclear site.
Khamenei farewell in Tehran
Iran planned a farewell ceremony for late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei at Tehran’s Imam Khomeini prayer ground, a three-day event with the funeral procession to be announced.
Saudi interception
Saudi Arabia’s Defence Ministry said it intercepted and destroyed a drone in the Eastern Province; details on origin or casualties were not immediately provided.
Satellite imagery of damage
Before-and-after satellite images published by Vantor showed the domed roof of Iran’s presidential complex destroyed, aligning with Israel’s claim of an overnight strike on a heavily secured site in Tehran. Iranian officials had not acknowledged the damage.
Venezuelan solidarity march
Supporters of Venezuela’s government marched in Caracas in solidarity with Iran and mourning Khamenei, wearing T-shirts with a photo of former president Nicolás Maduro, who was captured by US forces in a separate operation two months earlier.
UAE intercept statistics
The UAE Defence Ministry said it had been attacked by more than 1,000 Iranian drones and missiles so far, reporting that most were intercepted: 57 drone strikes hit within UAE territory out of more than 800 detected, one of 186 ballistic missiles hit, and all eight cruise missiles were intercepted. Independent verification was not possible.
Repatriation flight for Australians
A commercial flight from Dubai to Sydney was planned to start repatriating 24,000 Australians stranded in the UAE, Australia’s Foreign Minister said, calling it a consular crisis of unprecedented scale for Australia.
US troop casualties
The Pentagon released names of four of six US service members killed in the conflict; they died in a drone strike in Kuwait.
Bombardment of Tehran
New rounds of US and Israeli airstrikes rattled Tehran, with satellite images showing damage to the presidential complex; Iran had not reported casualties from that strike.
Red Crescent casualty figures
Iran’s Red Crescent Society reported that US-Israeli strikes have killed at least 787 people in Iran. In Lebanon, 50 people were reported killed, including seven children; smaller numbers of deaths were reported in the UAE, Kuwait and Bahrain. The US military confirmed six American service members killed.
Attacks on US diplomatic sites
Iranian drone attacks struck the US Embassy in Riyadh and a parking lot outside the US consulate in Dubai, causing limited fires; the US pulled staff from Riyadh and urged Americans to avoid the compound, but said all embassy personnel in Dubai were accounted for.
US comments on Iranian leadership
President Donald Trump said some people in Iran he had considered as potential leaders are now dead after the strikes, expressing concern about the prospect of equally hostile successors.
Lebanon death toll rises
Lebanon’s Health Ministry reported 50 dead and 335 wounded over two days of Israeli strikes on southern Lebanon and Beirut suburbs, after Hezbollah launched missiles toward Israel.
Note: Reports are developing; some figures and accounts vary between official statements and source reports.
